The charitable heart of a teacher in the highlands.

After graduating from a preschool teacher training college, young teacher Le Thi Quang (born in 1975) packed her bags and moved from Con Cuong to Tuong Duong to take up her new job. Ms. Quang was assigned to Luu Kien Preschool, about 20 km from the district center. In the early 1990s, roads were still very rough, and life for people in the highlands was extremely difficult. Her school at that time had a thatched roof and walls made of bamboo panels.

After several years of working in the villages along the Kien stream, thanks to her solid expertise, Ms. Le Thi Quang was transferred to work as a specialist in the Education Department. For over 20 years, Ms. Quang has closely monitored the teaching activities of preschools to advise on solutions for improvement.quality of educationand helping and mentoring colleagues to improve their professional skills. This work may be quiet, but it is extremely important.

Having dedicated nearly 30 years to the remote mountainous region of Tuong Duong, Ms. Le Thi Quang has made significant contributions to the development of preschool education. Photo: Dinh Tuan

In 2018, Ms. Le Thi Quang was transferred to become the Deputy Principal of Xa Luong Kindergarten. Everything started from scratch, and her biggest worry was the difficulties and unfamiliarity she would face after returning after 20 years. However, with her enthusiasm, dedication, and the support of her colleagues, Ms. Quang proved her capabilities, contributing to the kindergarten at the headwaters of the Lam River achieving National Standard Level 1.

When mentioning Ms. Le Thi Quang, colleagues, many students, and parents immediately think of her as a "volunteer teacher." Since becoming Vice Principal, she has repeatedly made efforts to raise funds to help students have delicious meals and warm clothes during the cold winter months, ensuring the school has everything it needs.facilitiesfor children to learn…

Ms. Quang shared: “There is a shortage of everything here. I went around asking for things like an old water pump so the teachers wouldn't have to carry water in cans; asking for old clothes so the students could stay warm in the winter; asking for old tires to reinforce the school's embankment to prevent landslides; and mobilizing parents to contribute food to increase the children's nutrition. When they understand my purpose, if they have the means, relatives and acquaintances are willing to help and share.”

Ms. Le Thi Quang is always thinking and researching ways to improve the quality of teaching activities at the preschool. Photo: Dinh Tuan

The Na Bè and Hợp Thành school branches are located nearly 15km from the main school, perched precariously beside the Ang stream. During the rainy season, landslides are common, and even when earth is piled up, they only reappear the following year. Determined to protect the classrooms and ensure the safety of her students, Ms. Quang contacted friends in Vinh and Hoàng Mai town, obtaining 500 used car tires and arranging for free transportation to reinforce the embankment. Thanks to this, the school grounds remained free of landslides during the recent rainy season.

The children's playground had some dilapidated and damaged equipment. Ms. Quang selected some good materials and requested additional supplies, then asked the leaders of the Nam Non Hydropower Plant to have mechanics repair and refurbish it. Finally, the playground was completed, meeting all the necessary standards.National Standard SchoolThis saved the school tens of millions of dong.

Keep the enthusiasm alive.

Through social media platform Facebook and her network of friends, Ms. Le Thi Quang appealed to organizations, charitable groups, and philanthropists to help the school and its students with gifts and cash totaling hundreds of millions of VND. Therefore, colleagues and parents often call Ms. Quang "the volunteer teacher," a title that speaks volumes about the compassionate heart of this female teacher from the remote highlands.

Ms. Le Thi Quang always cares about her students and is ready to help those facing particularly difficult circumstances. Photo: Dinh Tuan

During the 2020-2021 school year, Ms. Le Thi Quang mobilized financial and in-kind donations for the school worth over 456 million VND, and nearly 300 million VND in the 2021-2022 school year; not to mention hundreds of millions of VND donated by parents for the construction of small projects and the purchase of teaching equipment for the students.remote schooland purchase supplies for the children attending the daycare program.

In particular, in July 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in Cham Puong village, Luong Minh commune (Tuong Duong district), and the entire village had to be locked down to control the disease. The already difficult lives of the Khmu people there became even more challenging. Faced with the hardships of the villagers, through her personal Facebook account, Ms. Quang appealed to the online community to donate money and goods totaling 150 million VND.

Ms. Le Thi Quang (far right) presents gifts to the Fatherland Front Committee of Tuong Duong district to be distributed to the people of Cham Puong village, Luong Minh commune. Photo: Dinh Tuan

With the cash raised, Ms. Quang used it to buy hand sanitizer, face masks, protective gear, and other medical supplies to donate to frontline workers fighting the pandemic. The donated items were handed over to the District Fatherland Front Committee to be distributed to the people of Cham Puong village who were facing shortages and difficulties during the lockdown.

Having been dedicated to Tuong Duong since her youth, teacher Le Thi Quang has garnered many prestigious awards, most notably receiving two Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Education and Training; one from the Vietnam Education Union; and five Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Ms. Le Thi Quang receives a Certificate of Commendation from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for being an outstanding teacher during the period 1982 - 2022. Photo: Cong Khang

Ms. Quang confided: “The socio-economic life is gradually improving, but compared to the general standard of living in the province, the lives of the people in Tuong Duong still face many difficulties, and the children are still suffering many disadvantages. In the next stage, although my health is starting to decline, I will try to maintain my enthusiasm for the profession and dedicate all my love to the children…”